More SRWU! Yes, she says all those things with this face

[abugslife]

1. [Hetepheres encounters some sign of human culture as she passes by. It might be music, a movie, art, a game, even an unusual building - doesn't matter. It also doesn't matter if it's something very snobby and high-brow, or low-brow and plebian - her reaction is the same! As for you, either you're passing by as well, or are actively engaged with the thing in question.]

Ah, how interesting. I see that the advancements of Earthling culture continue to amaze.

2. [Now she's watching some people at work. Construction workers building something, engineers working on mecha in the hangar, something else - your pick. And now she turns to you.]

If I may ask - are those free laborers? Did Earth abolish the institution of slavery yet?

3. [Late evening kitchen raid! The huge bug-alien is consuming a pile of biscuits with... sugar and mayo. What. Only now she noticed you. Staring, probably.]

Hmm? May I help you...?

4. [A mecha fight! Or rather, the aftermath of one. It was a flawless victory, not one of those Generic Bad Ends!]

An amazing victory! Everyone, engrave this battle in your minds and cherish it, for it is something to be proud of. As for now...

[Well, mostly flawless. Hetepheres' machine is lying on its back, struggling to get up. Have you ever seen a beetle in the same situation? It's kinda like that, only with desperate attempts to keep her dignity added.]

...A little help, if you don't mind?

Comments

2

[actuallyselfish]

Dido, one of those 'free laborers', looks up from her sandwich and thermos of soup and glares.

"Hey!" She shouts. "Don't you go calling us slaves! We've got unions and lunch breaks and everything!"

Re: 2

[abugslife]

Technically so did slaves back in the day. Although to my knowledge, their lunch consisted primarily of bread, vegetables and beer mixed together into a liquid.

...A bit like whatever that thermos is holding.

Re: 2

[actuallyselfish]

Dido has a lot of questions to ask in the wake of that reply, but the first is:

"So wait: slaves back in ancient times had labor unions?"

[abugslife]

No.

This implication was an exaggeration for comedic effect.

[actuallyselfish]

Dido blinks. "...oh! Now I get it!"

"Ha, ha, ha!" Dido adds, in a slightly stilted manner.

"Just a little heads-up? In modern human culture, asking if someone's a slave is a good way to piss people off."

[abugslife]

Then I presume that institution doesn't exist anymore, and all the back-breaking hard work has to be done by free people.

Good. This way lies a civil society.

[actuallyselfish]

Dido nods, cracking a smile.

"Yup! We've got free people and back-breaking work galore here at U.G.!"

She scratches the back of her head.

Glad to, uh, hear that you're not from a interstellar empire that's looking to enslave humanity and set us to work in their Death Mines."

[abugslife]

Oh, no. I am an emissary of the Pro-Earthling Party. We believe in peaceful cooperation and understanding between Earthlings and Gebians.

You're thinking of the Anti-Earthling Party.

[actuallyselfish]

"...goddammit." Dido says after a moment of reflection. "Not another one."

[abugslife]

I am not a bit happier about this than you are. Greed and xenophobia led my own people to in-fighting, and will cause much suffering among both of our races.

...Another one?

[actuallyselfish]

"Another god-damned hostile army of evil that wants to conquer our planet and enslave it's inhabitants." Dido clarifies with a sigh, and starts counting on her fingers.

"Urgals, Unknown Enemy, Kaiju, Neo-Divine Crusaders, Dr. Hell...counting your greedy, xenophobic kindred, our planet currently has 12 active menaces trying to subjugate it."

Dido shrugs.

"The Anti-Earthling Party's going to have to get in line."

[abugslife]

I doubt they will wait.

I think they will try to take advantage of all the ongoing conflicts and strike Earth when it's most vulnerable, instead. At least those of its leaders who have any tactical sense.